July 12th, 2011
As a leading global supplier of super duplex and related alloy products, we keep our ear to the ground for industry news, particularly when it makes its way into the public arena. In July 2011 it was reported by news website wboy.com, that American Electric Power’s Mountaineer and Mitchell power plants (located in West Virginia, US) had both suffered internal corrosion due to a supposedly non-corrosive alloy corroding within the scrubbers (desulphurisation chambers) of the power plants.
According to an American Electric Power spokesperson the problem caused no serious damage and presented no likelihood of a catastrophic event. A task force was set up to investigate the issue and find a solution. Liners were finally added to the scrubbers and no further degradation has been reported. According to recent findings, a similar type of corrosion has been found within scrubbers produced by several other manufacturers.
Super duplex and related steel alloys are a speciality here at Chemipetro. Of course, our expert engineers are adept at creating small components like socket head cap screws etc, but a conundrum like terminal scrubber corrosion certainly peaks their interest!
We believe that shoddy standards and a “make-do” attitude could be behind scrubber performance issues. Our project management style is, of course, to keep costs down, but NEVER at the expense of safety and product performance.
If you’d like more information on any of our products – from couplings to socket head cap screws – get in touch today and together we’ll find a 100% reliable solution.
Tags: Socket Head Cap Screws, Super Duplex
Posted in Duplex | No Comments »
June 9th, 2011
At Chemipetro, we have become one of the biggest suppliers of pipe fittings and seamless steel tube to the oil and gas industry around the world because we have built up a reputation for high quality products that will stand the test of time.
Testing is naturally an important part of making sure that components such as stud bolts, pipe flanges and seamless steel tubing are up to the wear and tear that will be put upon them.
We employ a highly-qualified team of quality testing engineers, researchers and mechanical operators who operate under a quality management system approved to BS EN ISO 9001 by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance.
For our customers who require special confidence that the products they are buying are particularly robust and safe, we also offer a number of special testing services.
These range from a Hydrogen Induced Cracking Inspection to check the effects of hydrogen on, for example, stud bolts, to a liquid penetrant inspection.
This costs relatively little money and can detect defects in seamless steel tubing that are not apparent to the naked eye. Our Magnet Particle Inspection can also detect surface flaws in stainless steel-type materials – we recommend duplex and super duplex stainless steels in many products because of their high strength and low corrosion levels.
Finally, Ultrasonic Inspection offers one of the most effective non-destructive methods of product testing, detecting even subtle internal damage. For further information, ask our advisers – they are waiting to help you.
Tags: Flanges, seamless steel tube, Super Duplex, super duplex stainless steels
Posted in Seamless pipe | No Comments »
June 3rd, 2011
If you are seeking a particularly strong grade of stainless steel, a recommended material is duplex grade stainless steel.
Duplex is around twice as strong as normal steel, known as ferritic or austenitic, and also has a resistance to corrosion that ranks alongside certain austenitic steels. However, it contains less molybdenum and nickel and is therefore cheaper.
Duplex, because of its light weight and reduced section thicknesses, finds many uses, particularly in the gas and oil industry. It is also popular with companies working in high chloride or marine environments, and is suitable – in a variety called lean duplex – for storing ethanol.
Around 70 years ago, scientists in Scandinavia developed super duplex stainless steels to be used in the sulphite paper business. Super duplex has an extremely high tensile strength, and can beat ordinary steels in corrosion resistance by a long chalk.
Super duplex’s low thermal expansion rates make it suitable for components that undergo heat changes, such as heat exchangers and cooling pipes.
At Chemipetro Ltd, duplex and super duplex are among the materials we use extensively – we are among largest stockholders and manufacturers of flanges, pipe, pipe fittings, fasteners and associated products in duplex, super duplex and high nickel alloys.
As experts in this field, we can advise on the correct products and materials for your project, and also provide everything you need to get the job done. Our website is packed with detailed information, and we pride ourselves on maintaining the most exemplary of standards.
Tags: Duplex, stainless steel, Super Duplex
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May 6th, 2011
As a leading worldwide industrial supplier of super duplex stainless steel, our researchers and engineering teams are more than encyclopaedic on the properties, functions and common uses of super duplex. But what are the benefits, in simple terms?
Qualities
Super duplex stainless steel embodies remarkable strength, resistance to crevice corrosion and pitting/stress cracking, workability, high thermal conductivity, high energy absorption, low thermal expansion, and resistance to sulphide stress corrosion in a single material. This makes it ideal for use in the production of mechanical and structural components.
Make-Up
The inherent make-up of the duplex family of stainless steels covers a range of qualities in terms of corrosion resistance that depends upon their alloy content. They are roughly twice as strong as austenitic or ferritic steels. Super duplex is formed from a mixed microstructure of almost equal fractions of austenite and ferrite, rather making it the best-in-class of the duplex family. Exemplary corrosion performance makes the duplex family – in particular super duplex – ideally suited to application in the marine industries.
Industrial Applications
Super duplex stainless steel pipes contending materials to the post financially thanks to its higher yield strength (savings are possible through reduced weight etc.) Super duplex is often the material of choice in the marine and fossil fuel industries. A few examples include heat exchangers in desalination plants, high strength resistant wiring, mining pipes for the transport of fossil fuels, and chemical oil tanks.
The duplex stainless steel family has seen success across the industrial board thanks to a potent combination of desirable qualities and cost effectiveness.
Tags: Duplex, Pipe Fittings, Pipe Flanges, Super Duplex
Posted in Super Duplex | No Comments »
April 12th, 2011
When purchasing seamless pipes, there are often different material choices. Here the materials available from Chemipetro, and what the benefits are of each individual type.
Some of the duplex stainless steel products from Chemipetro include tubing, seamless and welded pipes, fittings, flanges, pressure fittings and fasteners. Seamless and welded pipes in duplex stainless steel range from one half inch up to 60 inches. Some of the benefits of duplex are high strength, less expensive than austenitic stainless steel, low thermal expansion, and resistance to pitting, stress corrosion, cracking, and other issues.
Another choice for pipes are those made from super duplex stainless steel. Super duplex is a highly alloyed, high performance version of the duplex material. Chemipetro also offers pipes in this material from one inch up to 60 inches. The same benefits apply as those of the duplex, but this material is even stronger.
6% Moly, also known as 6MO, is another material used for pipes and other products like fittings, flanges, and fasteners. One of the major benefits of seamless pipes made from this material is that they are very highly resistant to stress corrosion and cracking from chloride. They are also fifty percent stronger than certain austenitic stainless steel pipes.
Titanium is also a good choice for materials. Titanium is very strong, and lightweight. Another benefit of this particular material is that it offers the opportunity for “cold bending,” where difficult or complex bends need to be made—with no need for fittings or flanges.
Tags: Flanges, seamless pipes, Super Duplex
Posted in Super Duplex | No Comments »
February 28th, 2011
For all pipes, flanges and products created from duplex and super duplex as well as all appropriate fixtures and fittings, always choose the A team of manufacturing: Chemipetro. We can make bespoke pipes and pipe fittings to absolutely any specification very rapidly and have it delivered right to your door.
Our expertise and gold standard service has seen us become the United Kingdom’s premier supplier of products to the worldwide gas, oil and petrochemical industries. Our products are designed and manufactured by the best professionals in the business and our close manufacturing proximity to the UK ROAD And rail network as well as three major international airports makes it relatively simple for us to deliver good s worldwide at very short notice.
Chemipetro also maintain s a twenty four hour breakdown and recovery service to all of its loyal customers, so you can rest assured that you e will never be left high and dry in any emergency situation. We fully appreciate the great responsibility of maintaining a high standard of products which are safety tested and always perform to the demands of the industries which we supply. Working in the oil, gas and petroleum supply industry demands high levels of dedication and commitments and we exceed the demands of our customers, using our expertise to originate and innovate.
For the best solutions from the professionals who always strive to excel, please always choose Chemipetro. We are eagerly awaiting calls from new customers every day, so don’t delay!
Tags: Flanges, Pipe Fittings, pipes, Super Duplex
Posted in Super Duplex | No Comments »
February 26th, 2011
Chemi Petro makes use of duplex stainless steel alloys which are just perfect for use in products such as seamless pipe, flanges, butt welded pipe and socket weld and screwed pressure fittings. We also make extensive use of super duplex stainless steel, which was developed in the 1980s to replace the first generation of duplex stainless steel materials.
Super duplex steel has many advantages: it is extremely high strength, is completely resistant to pitting and corrosion, will not crack or corrode and has a high thermal conductivity. Super duplex also has a high energy absorption rate and is easily weld-able and workable. We also make use when it is appropriate, of premium titanium and regular traditional stainless steel. We only work with the very best materials and carefully consider which is the best material for each particular product.
Our considerable experience in the manufacturing industry puts us in the ideal position to have a great depth of knowledge of the unique properties of each material as well as the foresight to recognize new developments early as far as new high tech materials are concerned.
Whether you need to order regular products from our comprehensive range or require a bespoke solution to a particular problem, we always enjoy the challenge of turning a problem into an opportunity to hone our specialist skills. For more details and in order to obtain a quote, please contact us via our website today at www.chemipetro.co.uk.
Tags: butt welds, Duplex, socket weld, Super Duplex
Posted in Duplex | No Comments »
January 3rd, 2011
With small bore steel pipework, joints are usually screwed connections. However with larger sections of pipe and pipe fittings, as more commonly used in the petro chemical industry, the common method of connecting them together is welding. Even when sections are bolted together using flanges, the flanges themselves are welded onto the pipe sections. At Chemipetro we manufacture weld neck flanges for just such applications.
This may sound like a relatively straightforward method but is in fact a highly technical process in itself, as if it is done incorrectly it can introduce a weak point into the pipeline that can be subject to corrosion and failure. The installer may spend a lot of money on using high grade materials such as super duplex stainless steel but if the joints are no good they the money is wasted.
The most common type of welding used for both steel and alloys is gas metal arc welding. In this process an electric arc produces the heat to melt the welding material, whilst an inert gas such as argon or carbon dioxide is flooded over the joint as it is made. The gas ensures that no air comes into contact with the weld as this can cause fusion defects and for the weld to be porous.
However, because of the need to ensure control of the inert gas flow this type of welding is not suitable for use in outdoor environments or under water. Here a variation of shielded metal arc welding must be used. This uses a consumable electrode coated with flux and does not require the gas supply.
Tags: Duplex, Flanges, Pipe Fittings, Super Duplex
Posted in Super Duplex | No Comments »
December 24th, 2010
At Chemipetro we have developed a wide range of specialist pipes, pipe fittings and flanges to cope with the many technical problems encountered in the petrochemical industry. These are manufactures from specialist steels such as duplex and super duplex stainless steels as well as other more exotic alloys to cope with the rigors of the more demanding environments such as salt water and corrosive chemicals.
However, technological innovations in other fields have also discovered that the products we manufacture are suitable for other applications which were never envisaged in the original product development.
One such application has been found in the electricity generation industry. For many years oil has been used as a fuel source in power stations and the handling of the fuel is the primary application for the products we manufacture. However with the spot light now turning also to what happens after the fuel is burnt, new applications are being found.
When fossil fuels are consumed in boilers, one of the products of combustion is sulphur dioxide. When this combines with water vapour in the atmosphere the product is acid rain. To prevent this happening the exhaust gases are cleaned by a process called Flue Gas Desulpherisation (FGD) to remove these products of combustion. This process however produces hydrochloric acid which of course is itself very difficult to deal with. Fortunately, one of the few materials which can cope with this is super duplex stainless steel and so the technologies developed for one use find a wider application.
Tags: Duplex, Pipe Fittings, Super Duplex, super duplex stainless steels
Posted in Pipe Fittings | No Comments »
December 21st, 2010
The petrochemical industry has required the development of specialist pipe fittings and pipes and flanges over the years to meet ever more demanding requirements. This has also led to the adoption of specialist materials such as super duplex stainless steels. These materials are none the less relatively straightforward to work and can be cut and welded in the normal manor. However, we at Chemipetro also manufacture parts from specialist materials that required more demanding techniques to work them.
Once such specialist material is titanium. Known as the space age metal, Titanium is very strong but has a low density compared with iron. In fact, it has the highest strength to weight ratio of any metal. It is also extremely resistant to corrosion from sea water, chlorine and even nitro- hydrochloric acid. These all go towards making it a suitable material for those extremely tough situations.
It is, however, its very toughness that can be a problem as it takes specialist techniques to work it. To weld titanium requires careful preparation to ensure that there are no contaminants on the weld surface. This can be done with steam cleaning or an alkaline dip but gloves must be worn as even chlorine from skin can cause contamination that will ruin the weld. The weld site should then be warmed to remove all traces of moisture. Finally the weld must be carried out in an atmosphere of pure Argon, and not just on the front but on the back of the weld as well.
A well done titanium weld will have the appearance of frozen mercury and will be shiny and reflective.
Tags: Flanges, Pipe Fittings, Super Duplex, welds
Posted in Super Duplex | No Comments »
